delivery options
Guided Independent Study (GIS)
In an effort to expand educational access, our office offers more than 70 credit courses in print- and web-based formats as part of UNI's Guided Independent Study (GIS) Program.
Students in GIS courses work independently and progress at their own pace as they complete course requirements entirely at a distance under the guidance of a UNI faculty member. Students may enroll in GIS courses at any time and take up to one year to complete a course.
More details about GIS, including a course list and enrollment information
Iowa Communications Network (ICN)
The ICN is a statewide interactive fiber-optic educational television system with more than 750 sites around the state. UNI houses eight ICN rooms right on campus. Continuing and Distance Education is the largest on-campus ICN user and is responsible for campus-wide scheduling, fee collection/payment and room maintenance. Since its initial use in 1993, the ICN has proven to be an invaluable tool for the university as it seeks to meet statewide educational objectives.
In a typical semester, UNI offers more than 30 courses via the ICN, most of them broadcast between 6 and 10 pm to serve as a convenient alternative for working adults who are not available to take courses during the day.
More details about the ICN, including scheduling information
Online courses
A variety of semester-based and guided independent study courses are offered through our office via the World Wide Web. Designed to expand access to UNI's educational offerings, these web courses reach students who live beyond commuting distance and wish to pursue a program of study at a distance or update their knowledge in specific content areas.
On-campus students may elect to enroll in web courses to solve scheduling conflicts, accelerate academic progress or to make use of summer and interim periods. In addition, many ICN courses incorporate web materials to augment class sessions.
More details about online courses, including a course list
On- and Off-Campus Workshops
We work with UNI faculty members and academic departments to deliver a variety of workshops around the state and on campus. Workshops are typically offered in specialized topics not covered by regular courses and may be taken by degree-seeking students, educators wishing to earn recertification credits and those seeking a course for professional development or personal interest.
More details about workshops, including a course list
Off-Campus Courses
As a part of UNI's outreach activities in the local community, our office offers approximately 80 evening credit courses each year in the Waterloo metropolitan area. These courses are offered in cooperation with UNI's Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE), Waterloo Community Schools, Hawkeye Community College, John Deere and Allen College.
While the ICN is the primary mode of delivery for courses around the state, selected courses are taught on-site at various off-campus locations.
More details about off-campus courses, including a course list